Running-gear for vehicles.



No. 766,226. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. W. DIETER.

RUNNING GEAR POR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED 812117. 190s.

N0 MODEL.

ldfuw,

Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM DIETER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 766,226, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed September 17, 1903. Serial No. 173,498. (No model.)

1'0 JZ wlwm/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM DIETER, a citizen of the United States, and a I'esident of the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, I'eference being' had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to the running-gear of vehicles, and more particularly to that class thereof wherein the side-bars or reaches comprise leaf or analogous springs.

The object of the invention is to provide a running-gear of this type wherein the factor of safety will be high without materially affecting the spring action.

A further object is to provide means whereby the side springs or spring-reaches may be connected to the axles in a Inanner to permit the unrestricted side oscillation of the vehiclebody and the tilting of the axles without affecting the spring' tensions and to permit the longitudinal adjustment of `the said side springs or spring-reaches to conform to other structural details of the vehicle or to properly tension the springs.

A still further object is to provide such a means of connection which will be self-lubricating' and substantially dust-proof andso constructed and arranged as to present an extensive holding' area and to contain no parts which through jars and jolts can be loosened or lost, with possibilities of I'esulting' accident; and a still further object is to provide in a vehicle a side spring or spring-reach which will be of simple construction capable of being' quickly and conveniently assembled.

The invention broadly consists in a side reach comprising a plurality of independent springs arranged one above the other, means whereby a vehicle-body may be mounted thereon, and means whereby the opposite ends of said springs may be connected to the front and rear axles comprising a shackle-plate, a pivotal connection between each plate and its axle, having' its axis at right ang'les to the axle, yokes on said plates concentric with said pivotal connection, and means whereby the adjacent ends of said spring's are respectively connected to one of said yokes on each axle, and also in certain details as to construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a side spring' or spring-reach embodying my invention, the vehicle-body and wheels being' indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2. is an enlarged view of the means connecting said spring's to the axle, said view being broken away and the interior construction thereof shown partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 3 is an end view thereof as indicated by the arrow and numeral 3, Fig. 2; and Fig'. L is a side elevation of the axlecollar and its sleeve.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

1n the drawings, /z n. indicate, respectively,

independent springs arranged one above the other, which extend longitudinally of the vehicle and are connected to the front and the I'ear axle. The vehicle-body is mounted on the central part of the reach so formed, and a pedestal or bolster?) is disposed between said springs to give a certain entity of structure thereto and insure the maintenance of the proper relation of the springs and also the transmission of pressures from one to the other. Said body is secured in position by bolts passing through both springs and said bolster or pedestal l1, a suitable face-plate being' interposed between said bolts and the lower spring. These springs may be of equal streng'th and similarly tensioned, if desired; but under some conditions I prefer to have them differ both in strength and tension, that the vibrations of one when running may so affect the other as to break any rhythmic vibrations, and thus limit the extent and duration of the oscillations of the vehicle-body. The ends of said springs may be connected to the axles through any desired agency; but preferably I employ a direct coupling which has the function in addition to merely forming a joinder of these parts of permitting' a lateral swing of the springs and tilting' of the axles, or either of them, while containing' an IOO extensive holding area which automatically takes up or lets out the springs at one end and simultaneously lets it out or takes it up at the other to an equal extent with the oscillations of the body. This attachment or connection has the further advantage that in assembling it may be adjust-ed to compensate for any spring-tension irregularities and to regulate the tension of the side springs or springreaches, and when once set the interlocking of the screw-threads alone holds it in place. It cannot therefore through a workingloose or wearing of parts vary this relation or permit the uncoupling of the springs from the axle. screw-threaded sleeve d, mounted on the axle c by means 'of a 'collar c', which latter may be attached to the axle in any desired manner,

as by being shrunk, keyed, or bra'zed thereon.

These parts are preferably made integral, as of a single casting, and the thread tapped therein may be of any desired form. Coperating with the sleeve d is a screw-threaded tongue e, the threadsof which mesh with those of the said sleeve. The tongue e is provided 'with a collar e' and a tane2 vwhich carries the yoke-plate f, to which the springs a o are secured. For convenience in handling' in the shop these partsthe yoke-plate and the tongue e and its appurtenances-are made separately and united afterbeing finished, the tang e2 being 'adapted to enter an openingin the said yoke-plate to a point where the collar e abuts against said plate and its end upset to firmly secure the parts together. This construction, however, is merely one 'of convenience to reduce the labor and expense of handling and to facilitate the assembling 'of parts and is not essential to the invention.

The tongue e is provided with a central -lubricant-chamber c, which feeds oil to the sleeve through the openings g in said tongue. Preferably this chamber vis lled with waste saturated lwith the lubricant to avoid an `excessive feed thereof to said sleeve. To exclude dust from said threads and the lubricantchamber, I provide the caps it 7L', which respectively close the ends of the sleeve d.

vThese caps may be either screw-threaded or merely friction-caps. One, as L, is an ordinary cup -shap'e'd cap, while the other, it', is open at one end in order to pass over and closely envelop the collar e', and thus facilitateits application to the sleeve Zand permit slight longitudinal movement of the tongue e andits appurtenances. Y

The 'yoke-plate fis .provided with oppositely-dijsposed yokes f f2, each provided with transverse bolt-holes and having therebetween the curved spring-seats f3 f1. The said yokes are disposed on opposite sides of the axis of the tongue e and substantially equidistant therefrom or concentric therewith. The springs t a' are connected to said plates by placingthe end of each said spring This coupling comprises an interiorlyto travel toward and the other from its sleeve Z to an equal extent, thus relieving the springs t ci from any' longitudinal compression or expansion from this source. The' tilting of either axle alone will not materially affect the springs, asthe tongue e can turn freely in its sleeve and the arc inscribed by the axle end is not suiiicient to do otherwise than tension the springs slightly.

A The operation of the above-described coupling is apparent. The screw-threaded tongue c, meshing with the screw -threads `of the sleeve d, permits the regulation of the distance between the spring-yokes f f2 independently of the axles to a limited extent, and thus permits an independent adjustment of the spring tension on each side of the vehicle in assembling to produce a properly-balanced vehicle. The manner of attaching the springs facilitates this adjustment. This construction and arrangement avoids the neces- A ating screw-threads give an extended holding areavan'd provide a means of attachment which admits of oscillation and at the same time one TOO which will not permit the separation of the springs from the axle except by the stripping of heavy threads, an lall but impossible contingency. The threads are automatically lubricated to prevent undue wear or binding of practicaliy dust and dirt proof.

In action the side oscillations of the vehicle-body do not distort the springs, the connection with the axles turning instead of subjecting the springs to a torsional strain at their weakest point. This turning movement, however, does not subject any part to undue strains, as one tongue e takes up the spring to 'an extent equal to that which the other lets out, thus maintaining the equilibrium of spring tensions on both parts.

The opera-tion of the springs a a' is substantially as follows: Whether the springs be of the same or diiferent tensions, under normal loads and conditions the upper spring will carry the main load, and the lower spring will not be pushed to its full capacity. With the increase of load or the further compression o f the upper spring, however, the other will assume more of the load, and thus reflieve the-otherto a certain extent and at the 'parts through rust, and the said threads are ITO tion ot' the vehicle-body. The bolster or pedestal aids in bringing the second or lower spring into action at the desired period and also in case ot' the breakage of the upper spring' will cause said lower spring' to at once assume the full load. By making' the spring's ot' diii'erent strengths and tensions l merely emphasize the above mode of operation, more positively assuming' the load and breaking up the oscillations of the other spring' and the vehicle-body.

The structure heretofore described is duplicated on each side of the vehicle; but in the specitication and claims but one side spring' or spring-reach is shown and described.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to thevprecise construction herein shown and described, as such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described the invention, what l claim as new, and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a running-gear for vehicles, a springreach comprising a pluralityotl independent spring's arranged one above the other, means whereby a vehicle body may be attached thereto, and means connecting' the opposite ends ot' said spring's to the front and the rear axles comprising' a shackle-plate, a pivotal connection between each plate and its axle, having its axis at right angles to the axle, yoltes on said plate concentric with said pivotal connection, and means whereby the adjacent ends ot' said superposed springs are respectively connected each to one of said yokes.

Vln a running-gear Jfor vehicles, a spring'- reach comprising a plurality ot' independent springs of dil'l'erent strength or tension arranged one above the other, means whereby a vehicle-body may be attached thereto and means connecting' the opposite ends ot' said springs to the front and the rear axles comprising a shackle-plate, a pivotal connection between each plate and its axle, having' its axis at right ang'les to the axle, yokes on said plate concentric with said pivotal connection, and means whereby the adjacent ends of said superposed springs are respectively connected each to one of said yoles.

3. In a running-gearfor vehicles, aspringreach comprising a plurality of independent springs arranged one above the other, a bolster or pedestal between said springs approximately centrally thereof, means whereby a vehicle-body may be attached thereto and means connecting the opposite ends o't' said springs to the i'ront and the rear axles comprising a shackle-plate, a pivotal connection between each plate and its axle, having its axis at right angles to the axle, yokes on said plate concentric with said pivotal connection, and meanswhereby the adjacent ends of said superposed springs are respectively connected each to one ot' said yoles.

4C. 1n a running-gear tor vehicles, the combination with a spring-reach and means whereby a vehicle-body may be attached thereto, o't' an interiorly-screw-threaded sleeve mounted on each axle, screw-threaded tongues meshing therewith respectively and means carried by said tongues whereby the opposite ends of said spring-reaches are connected thereto.

5. ln a running-gear for vehicles, the combination with a spring-reach and means whereby a vehicle-body may be attached thereto, of a sleeve mounted on each axle, a tongue rotatably mounted therein, said tongues each being' provided with a lubricant-chamber discharging into said sleeve and means carried by said tongue whereby the opposite ends ot' said spring-reaches are connected thereto.

6. In a running-gear `t'or vehicles, the combination with a springreach and means whereby a vehicle-body may be attached thereto, of an interiorly-screw-threaded sleeve mounted on each axle, screw-threaded tongues meshing therewith respectively, said tongues each being provided with a lubricant-chamber discharging into said sleeve, and means carried by said tongues whereby the opposite ends of said spring-reaches are connected thereto.

7. 1n a running-gear for vehicles, the combination with a spring-reach and means whereby a vehicle-body may be attached thereto, of an interiorly-screw-threaded sleeve mounted on each axle, screw-threaded tongues meshing therewith respectively, said tongues each being provided with a lubricant-chamber discharging into said sleeve, dust-prootl caps inclosing the opposite ends of said sleeve, and means carried by said tongues whereby the opposite ends of said spring-reaches are connected thereto.

In a running-gear for vehicles, the combination with a spring-reach comprising' a plurality of independent springs arranged one above the other and means whereby a vehiclebody may be attached thereto, of an interiorlyscrew-threaded sleeve mounted on each axle, screw-threaded tongues respectively meshing' therewith, and a yoke-plate carried by each said tongue comprising yokes disposed on the opposite sides of the axis o't` said tongues and means whereby said springs may be secured to said yokes respectively.

9. In a running-gear for vehicles, the combination with a spring-reach comprising' a plurality of independent springs arranged one above the other and means whereby a vehiclebody mayY be attached thereto, of an interiorlyscrew-threaded sleeve mounted on each axle, screw-threaded tongues respectively meshing therewith, a collar thereon, a yoke-plate cai'- ried by each said spring comprising volies disposed on the opposite sides of the axis of said tongues, `said tong'ucs being' provided with a lu- IOO bricant-eharnber discharging into said sleeve, z my signature, this 1st day of September, 1903, a Cap inelosing one end of said sleeve, a second in the presence of two witnesses. cap enveloping the other end thereof and surrounding' said tongue and bearing against said 5 collar, and means whereby the said springs Witnesses: v

may be seenred to said yokes respectively. vWM. H. BLAIN,

l In witness whereof I have hereunto aixed F. T. VVENTWORTH.

WILLIAM DIETER. 

